Power-operated radio antenna



J. H. coNE 2,838,953

PowER-oPERATED RADIO ANTENNA 5 Sheets-Shea?l 1 S bv mw m W /,741% 4 N R@24 /No i E 6 O Y* s W n n A, om 1 w A .mf m l A1 n k H. M IV//WP 1N wfw J. w@ Y B June 17, 1958 Filed oct. 8. 1953 June 17, 1958 J. H. coNE2,838,953

POWER-OPERATED RADIO ANTENNA Filed Oct. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 47( /fINVENTOR JOSe/OZ ff. Cone QM RQ/d ATTORNEYS June 175 1958 J. H. coNEPowER-oPERATED RADIO ANTENNA 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed oct. 8. 1953INVENTOR Jose/Dh H Cone BY W GWA ld@ ATTORNEYS United StatesPOWER-OPERATED RADIO ANTENNA Joseph H. Cone, Bridgeport, Conn., assignorto Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut This invention relates to retractable and extendibletelescopic radio antennas, and more particularly to poweroperatedantennas of this type, such as are used in automobiles and the like.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application,Serial No. 18,253, filed March' 21, 1948, now Patent No. 2,695,957,granted November 30, 1954. In this copending appli-cation there is showna telescopic radio antenna in which the antenna sections or rods areactuated by a flexible, elongate driving strip which lpasses between apair of juxtaposed friction driving 4wheels to be frictionally advancedand retracted thereby. To satisfy various space requirements, thedriving strip is housed in a handbendable tubular metal sheath when theantenna sections are in retracted positions, the

.sheath being bendable into various shapes as might be required fordifferent installation. The elongate driving strip is preferably ofinsulating plastic material such as nylon (synthetic `fiber-formingpolymeric amide) whereby the capacity-to-ground of the antenna sectionsmay be kept at a desirable low figure. By virtue of the friction drive,the use of limit switches and the like to automatically shut ofl` thepower when the antenna sections are fully extended or retracted isobviated, since slippage may intentional-ly occur Vbetween the frictionwheels and the driving strip without harm to the apparatus.

In one form of the invention disclosed in my aforesaid copendingapplication, the friction drive wheels are s pring-urged toward thedriving strip and held in engagement therewith under spring pressure,thereby effecting a .predetermined friction and controlling the slippageof the wheels on the strip, and an obje-ct of the present invention isto provide an improved spring-charged friction driving mechanism for apower-operated antenna, whereby a predetermined desired friction may bereadily established and maintained in the drive, regardless ofvariations in the manufacture of the component parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved frictionalantenna drive as above set forth, in which the friction may be readilychanged or regulated after the antenna has been installed, to suitdifferent conditions of use and/ or compensate for wear.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved frictionalantenna rive in which adjustment ofV the friction may be quickly andeasily accomplished without dismantling parts or requiring anycomplicated or lengthy servicing operation.

A feature of the invention resides in the .provision of an improvedfrictional antenna drive wherein the ad-` justed friction will normallybe maintained substantially constant throughout the period of use of theantenna.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedfrictional antenna drive in accordance with the above, which is simplein construction and economical to fabricate, and reliable in operationat all times.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of the improved i atent Or 2,838,953Patented .lume 17,

telescoping antenna and friction drive of the invention, some of thecomponents being shown in elevation and other components in verticalsection.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 `of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary `vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view takenthrough the flexible driving member and the friction wheels engaging thesame.

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 2, but showing a modification of theinvention wherein one friction driving pulley is spring-charged or urgedagainst the flexible driving strip.

Fig. 6 is a view, enlarged, like Figs. 2 and 5 but showing anothermodification of the invention wherein a different spring arrangement andbearing mounting is provided.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view take on line 7-7 of Fig.6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the movable bearing block of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a View like Figs. 2, 5 and 6 but illustrating yet anothermodification of the invention wherein a friction drive has spring forceapplied to one of the driving wheels.

Fig. l() is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation ofthe friction drive, the section being taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

lFig. 1l is a top or plan View of the movable bearing block of Figs. 9and l0.

The improved power-operated antenna shown in Figs. l-4 comprises anelongate upright tubular housing 20 in which are retractably mountedtelescoping antenna sections 21, 22 and 23, the section 21 beingouter-most and the section 23 innermost. As is well understood, thesections 21, 22 and 23 may be extended upward from the retractedposition shown in Fig. 1, to provide maximum signal pickup for theantenna, such movement being effected by application of upward force onthe lower end y24v of the innermost section 23.

'Power means for applying such force comprises an electric motor 25mounted on a casing 26 which is secured to the lower end of the tubularupright housing,r 20. The `motor 25 has a drive shaft 27 provided with aworm 28 engaging worm wheels 29 rigidly carried on shafts 30, the latterbeing supported in self-aligning bearings 31 secured in the casing 26.The shafts 30 rigidly carry opposed friction wheels 32 engaging oppositesides of a flexible elongate driving strip 33 of nylon or equivalent,the driving strip 33 at its upper end 34 being connected -to the lowerend 24 of the antenna section 23 by a coupling 35. Raising of thedriving strip 33 will extend the antenna sections 21, 22 and 23, andlower* ing o-f the driving `strip 33 will retract the antenna sections.

In accordance with the present invention, in conjunction with the dualdrive involving the shafts 3), the latter are mounted for relativemovement toward and away from each other and are spring-charged or urgedtowards eachother to provide a predetermined controlled friction betweenthe friction drive wheels 32 and the driving strip 3. To accomplish thisa bearing block 36 is provided in the casing 26, having slot 37, Fig. 3,to accommodate the shafts 30, and a helical extension spring 3S isprovided, having its ends carried in annular grooves 39 formed in theend portions of the shafts 3i). The eX tension spring 33 is formed tohave a uniform, closely controlled length between its ends, and when thespring is placed on the ends of the shafts 3l) it will charge thefriction-wheels and maintain a predetermined, substantially constantforce between the wheels and the driving strip 33. This force will besubstantially independent of manufacturing tolerances and smallvariations in the dimensions of the drive wheels 32 and the drivingstrip 33, since such variations account for a difference in spacing ofthe shafts 30 on the order of only several thousands of an inch, and thespring force will not vary materially with such small differences ofposition.

The provision of such a predetermined force between the drive wheels ofthe driving strip is of considerable advantage in a power-operatedantenna, since it enables the operation of the antenna to be uniform andreliable and obviates the necessity for limit switches and other devicesto shut off the power when the sections become either fully extended orfully retracted. For such extended and retracted positions of theantenna sections, slippage will occur between the friction wheels .32and the drive strip 33, and the motor 25 may therefore continue to turnwithout damage to the apparatus. Moreover, by the provision of theproper friction between the drive wheels 32 and driving strip 33variations in the load represented by the antenna sections will notnormally result in failure of the antenna to operate when being extendedor retracted. Dirt or other foreign matter which might become depositedon the antenna sections, resulting in a greater load, will ordinarilynot be suflicient to overcome the friction between the drive wheels 32and the driving strip 33, and the same applies for snow, sleet, etc.Therefore reliability in the operation of the antenna is had with aminimum of components or parts. The tension of the spring 3S on theshafts 30 may be predetermined at the time of assembly of the antenna,and will remain substantially constant during the use of the device.

Under certain circumstances it will be found desirable to adjust or varythe frictional force between the drive wheels and driving strip of theantenna, and also where it is desired to facilitate initial adjustmentand re-adjustment of the tension during fabrication of the antenna, anadjustable tension device may be provided, as illustrated in Fig. 5.With the embodiment of the invention shown in this figure, the entireantenna may be assembled prior to adjustment of the friction of thedriving mechanism, and this obviates the necessity of dismantling partsif initial adjustment should for some reason inadvertently change or beincorrect. As shown, the adjustable friction drive in Fig. comprisesfriction wheels 40 engaging opposite sides of a flexible elongatedriving strip 41, the wheels being carried on divergent shafts 42 and43, said shafts in turn mounting worm wheels 44 engaging a worm 45driven by a motor 46 mounted on a casing 47.

The shaft 43 is carried in a bearing sleeve 48 having secured to a sidewall and laterally projecting therefrom a collar 49. The collar 49 fitsaround and bears on a ring 50 which is rigid with the motor 46, and suchmounting enables the bearing sleeve 48 to have an arcuate movement aboutthe worm 45 as a center. The bearing sleeve 48 moves in a bifurcatedguide member 51 secured to the casing 47, and is spring-charged byengagement with a plunger 52 carried in a tubular member 53 rigid withthe casing 47. Within the member 53 there is a helical compressionspring 54 engaging at one end the plunger 52. and at its other end anadjusting screw 55 threaded in the member S3 and locked by a nut 56. Thespring 54 thus charges the bearing sleeve 48 and the upper one of thefriction drive wheels 41D, and maintains both the drive wheels 40 inpressing engagement with the driving strip 41. Adjustment of thefrictional force existing between the friction wheels 40 and the drivingstrip 41 is accomplished by setting the adjusting screw 55 in eitherdeeper or shallower positions in the tubular member 53, and suchadjustment may be readily effected from outside of the casing 47, afterthe antenna has been completely assembled. The amount of friction may bereadily gauged by the simple operation of connecting a scale to theantenna sections and running the motor 46.

to cause slippage of the drive wheels to occur. The scale reading isthen noted, and the desired pull obtained by turning the adjusting screw55.

A modified form of adjustable friction drive made in accordance with theinvention is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The operation of this form isgenerally similar to that just described for the structure of Fig. 5,but the one friction wheel is made self-aligning to prevent binding, andthe structures of the parts are somewhat dierent. In Figs. 6 through 8 amotor driven worm 57 drives worin gears S8 mounted on divergent shafts59 carrying friction drive wheels 60 and 61. The drive wheel 61 has aball-shaped hub 62 keyed to the shaft 59 by splines 63,

-the hub 62 being carried in a two-part socket comprising socket halves64 and 65 and the assembly being maintained by a nut 66 threaded on theend of the shaft 59. The nut 66 may be secured against turning by anysuitable means, such as staking the end of the shaft, etc. By the balland socket mounting of the friction wheel 61, the wheel can withinlimits align itself properly with respect to the driving strip 67,thereby to avoid binding or other stresses which might impair smoothoperation of the friction drive.

The shaft S9 carrying the wheel 61 is rotatable in a bearing sleeve 68movable in a bifurcated guide 69 and carried by an arcuate extension 70having slots 71 receiving posts 72 in the form of screws upstanding fromthe casing 73.

The bearing sleeve 68 has a sloping-faced lug '74 engaged by a helicalcompression spring 75 carried in a tubular member 76, the compressionspring 75 being backed by an adjusting screw 77 secured by a lock nut78.

The arcuate extension 70 and the bifurcated guide 69 enable the bearingsleeve 68 to have arcuate movement, and enable the friction wheel 61 tobe moved toward or away from the driving strip 67; the compressionspring 75 normally holds the friction wheels 60 and 61 in pressingengagement with the driving strip 67. Adjustment of the friction forceon the driving strip 67 is effected by changing the setting of theadjusting screw 77, and such change may be effected from outside of thecasing 73 and after assembly of the antenna.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 9 through ll. Inthese figures a worm 8@ carried on a motor shaft 81 drives worm gears 82mounted on shafts 83 and 84, said shafts being rotatably carriedrespectively in bearing sleeves 85 and 36 and having friction wheels 87and 88 engagingopposite sides of a driving strip 89.

The ybearing sleeve S6 has an upward and angularly extended arm 90provided with a collar 91 surrounding and bearing on a bearing post 92secured .to a motor casing 93. The bearing sleeve 86 has slotted guides94 on its opposite sides, receiving posts 95 in the form of screwsmounted on the casing. By this organization the bearing sleeve 86 isenabled to have limited arcuate movement about the axis of the worm S0.The bearing sleeve S6 is spring-charged by a helical compression spring96 carried in a tubular member 97 having an adjusting screw 98 threadedinto it. Adjustment of the frictional force existing between the drivewheels 87, 8% and the driving strip 89 is effected by screwing in or outthe adjustment screw 98, which varies the force of the compressionspring 96. The three point mounting of the bearing sleeve S6 comprisingthe slotted guides 94 and the collar 91 provide for smooth movement ofthe bearing sleeve and enable the spring 96 to effectively control thefriction of the drive wheels 87 and 88, and contributing to this is thedisposition of the collar 1, said collar being out of 4the plane of andoffset upward with respect to the slotted guides 94. The movement of thebearing sleeve 86 will be free of binding, and will respond tovariations in the dimensions of the drive wheels 7:17, S8 and drivingstrip 89.

Variations and modifications may be made within the ceeded.

scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used withoutothers.

1. An antenna having an'elongate, longitudinally extendible andretractable section and a uniformly thick driving strip connected tosaid section to actuate the same, a pair of juxtaposed drive wheelsengaging opposite sides of the strip to drive the strip axially; shaftsdriving said wheels respectively; worm wheels driving the shaftsrespectively; a single Worm extending between and engaging the wormwheels for turning the latter and the drive wheels in oppositedirections whereby driving force is applied to 'opposite sides of thedriving strip to raise and lower the antenna sections; means locatedadjacent said worm wheels for mounting said shafts for movement towardor from each other while the worm wheels and worm remain engaged; andresilient means, normally urging the shafts and drive Wheels carriedthereby toward each other, causing the driving lstrip to be frictionallyengaged by said drive wheels-under a predetermined constant pressureenabling inten-tional slippage between said strip and wheels to occurwhen a predetermined load on the strip is ex- 2. An antenna having anelongate, longitudinally extendible and retractable section and auniformly thick driving strip connected to said section to actuate thesame, a air of juxtaposed drive wheels engaging opposite sides of thestrip to drive the strip axially; shafts driving said wheelsrespectively; worm Wheels driving the shafts respectively; a single wormextending between and engaging the worm wheels for turning the latterand the drive Wheels in opposite directions whereby driving force isapplied to opposite sides of the driving 'strip to raise and lower theantenna sections; means located adjacent said Worm wheels for mountingsaid shafts for movement toward or from each other while the worm wheelsand worm remain engaged; resilient means, normally urging the shafts anddrive wheels carried thereby toward each other, causing the drivingstrip to be frictionally engaged by said drive wheels under apredetermined constant pressure enabling intentional slippage betweensaid strip and wheels to occur when a predetermined load on the strip isexceeded; and means located adjacent the drive wheels for guiding saidshafts in their movements toward or away from each other.

3. In a friction drive mechanism for an antenna of the type having anelongate longitudinally extendible and retractable antenna section, anelongate uniformly thick driving strip adapted to be connected to saidsection to actuate the same; a pair of juxtaposed, rotatable, frictiondrive wheels engaging opposite sides of the driving strip to move thestrip axially; means mounting one of said drive wheels for movementtransversely of its axis in directions toward and away from the drivingstrip; spring means acting on said mounting means, continuously holdingthe latter in a position charging said one drive wheel and maintainingthe same in frictional engagement with said drive strip under apredetermined constant continuous force enabling intentional slippagebetween said strip and Wheels to occur when a predetermined load on thestrip is exceeded; and means for adjusting said spring means to vary theforce exerted by it on said mounting means.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 in which there is a worm wheelrigidly connected to the spring-charged drive wheel for driving thelatter, in which there is a worm driving said worm wheel, and in whichthere are bearing means mounting said drive wheel and worm wheel forrotation, said bearing means being arcuately movable through an archaving its center substantially at the axis of the worm and comprisingthe means mounting the said one drive wheel for translational movement.

5. The invention as deined in claim 4 in which there is a shaft carryingthe worm, in which the bearing means comprises a bearing sleeve having acollar attached to it and projecting laterally from it, `said collarextending around the axis of the said shaft.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which the spring meanscomprises ahelical coil compression spring having one end operativelyconnected with the bearing sleeve and in which there is an adjustingscrew operatively connected to the other end of the coil spring, toadjust the compression thereof.

7. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which the bearing meanscomprises a bearing sleeve having a lateral extension projectingtherefrom, provided with slots lying in a circle, and in where there aremeans engaged in the slots of said extension, mounting the sleeve forsaid arcuate movement.

`8. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which the bearing meanscomprises a bearing sleeve having a collar projecting from a side wallof the sleeve, in which there is a bearing post passing through saidcollar with its axis projecting from a side wall of the sleeve, in whichthere is a bearing post passing through said collar with its axisaligned with the worm to provide for arcuate movement of the bearingsleeve, and in which there are slotted guides on the bearing sleeve, andposts extending through the `slotsof the guides, providing additionalsupport for the sleeve.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which the slotted guides aredisposed on opposite sides of the bearing sleeve, and in which thecollar is disposed at one of said sides of the sleeve and is offset withrespect to the slotted guide at saidv one side.

11. The invention as defined in claim 3 in which there is a casing, saiddriving strip and friction wheels being mounted in the casing, and inwhich the means for adjusting the spring means comprises a movablemember exposed for actuation at the exterior of the casing.

12. An antenna having an elongate, longitudinallyextendible andretractable section and an elongate uniformly thick driving stripconnected to said section to actuate the same; a pair of .juxtaposedfriction drive wheels engaging opposite sides of the driving strip tomove the strip axially, one of said drive Wheels `being shiftabletransversely of its axis towards and away from the driving strip; springmeans yieldably holding said one drive wheel in engagement withsaiddriving strip under a predetermined constant continuous forceenablingy intentional slippage between said strip and wheels to occurwhen a predetermined load on the strip is exceeded; and means foradjusting said spring means to vary the force exerted by it on saiddrive wheel.

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